60 THE SALMON FLY. 



3. THE STILETTO, which has uses unsuggested by its simplicity, 

 should be of the best-tempered steel, and without any sort of handle 

 fitted to it. Besides being a treasure alike to the fly-dresser and the 

 Fisherman, it can be used to pick up small feathers, etc., by placing its 

 point under the object, on which the tip of the fore-finger is then pressed 

 in conjunction. Some persons, however, use for this and similar pur- 

 poses a pair of spring forceps, such as are commonly supplied with 

 microscopes. A stiletto of admirable quality and shape may be bought 

 for fourpence at Messrs. Wilcox & Gibbs, Sewing Machinists. The one 

 I use in fishing is punctured at the end to hold a thin piece of elastic, and 

 fits in an outside socket-pocket in my jacket. 



4. A BOX OF STEVENS' SILICON and a SMALL BOTTLE OF VABNISH, 

 together with COBBLEES' WAX will complete the list. 



I never use varnish made of shellac and spirits of wine (which, 

 however, can be improved by the addition of a small piece of " Venice 

 turpentine," about half the size of a nut to a 2-oz. phial), seeing that Turn- 

 bull, of Edinburgh, has introduced a far better sort that dries as quickly, 

 does not change its black tone in the water, and lasts considerably 

 longer. For flies, not intended for immediate use, copal varnish should 

 be used with the shellac. The two will not mix in any ordinary way. 

 Dip the stiletto point into copal, and put the small drop adhering to it on 

 the back of a saucer ; then take a similar dip into the other, and mix the 

 two drops quickly with the instrument, and apply to the fly-head 

 immediately. A head thus treated never requires varnish again ; but it 

 takes about a week to get dry enough for use. 



5. COBBLERS' WAX must be fresh made. I form mine into small 

 pills, and keep them in a stoppered bottle filled with water. 



It should be specially noted by those who dress flies at night that 

 the misleading influence of the yellow rays from an ordinary artificial 

 flame may be counteracted, and, what is much more important, a full 

 light concentrated upon the work, by the use of what is known as the 

 "Engraver's Glass." Since writing this sentence, my friend, " Detached 

 Badger," has contributed an article to the Field on dressing flies by 

 artificial light. So full and explicit are the instructions given that I 

 make the following quotations from them, with that gratitude which is 



